Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment

ABSTRACT

A method for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. Each gaming chip is of a specific gaming chip type selected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types. The gambling establishment includes a plurality of wagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game and a plurality of gaming chip distributors. The method includes: at one of the gaming chip distributors, receiving a payment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and at the one of the gaming chip distributors, issuing to the intended user a plurality of gaming chips, the gaming chips being issued in numbers such that the sum of the monetary values represented by the issued gaming chips is equal to the monetary value of the received payment; wherein the number of gaming chips of each predetermined gaming chip type issued depends, at least in part, on an operational parameter of either a set of wagering stations from the plurality of wagering stations at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to be used by the intended user; the gaming chip distributor; or a combination of the set of wagering stations and the gaming chip distributor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of wagering games.More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a method anda system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gamblingestablishment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many gambling establishments, such as for example casinos, do not acceptdirectly paper money for wagering at wagering stations. Instead,intended users of the gambling establishment exchange paper money forgaming chips that are then used at wagering stations. However, thiscreates a problem of managing the distribution of the gaming chipswithin the gambling establishment.

Indeed, since the intended users exchange their money for gaming chipsand then spend the gaming chips at wagering stations, it often occursthat chips having some monetary values accumulate at some wageringstations, while chips of other monetary values need to be continuouslybrought to the same or to other wagering stations. While thisdisadvantage seems relatively minor, each time gaming chips are broughtto a wagering station, the wagering must stop at least for a few momentsat that station. Since gambling establishments may be considered asselling wagering time, these interruptions may cumulatively lead to lossof money for the gambling establishment as it reduces the availabilityof the wagering stations for wagering.

In addition, there is a need to move the gaming chips between stationsand a central location, usually referred to as a cage. Since gamingchips are basically cash equivalent, there is a need to provideappropriate security during these movements so that there is no loss ofgaming chips either by accident or by users trying to steal the gamingchips. Therefore, personnel must be hired specifically to move thegaming chips within the gambling establishment, which leads to increasedoperational costs for the gambling establishment.

Another problem that may occur with existing gaming chips distributionsystems is that the chips are typically distributed according to apredetermined algorithm that is independent from the environment inwhich the gaming chips are distributed. However, it often occurs thatwagering stations in a gambling establishment are distributed so thatwagering stations requiring a minimal wager at a certain wager level aregrouped together. Therefore, if the gaming chip distributors distributechips according to a predetermined algorithm, it may occur that theintended users need to exchange chips having a certain monetary valuefor chips having another monetary value in order to participate in thewagering. Once more, these gaming chips exchanges may cause theavailable wagering time to be reduced at some of the wagering stations.

Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to providenovel methods and systems for managing the circulation of gaming chipsin a gambling establishment.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide improvedmethods and systems for managing the circulation of gaming chips in agambling establishment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first broad aspect, the invention provides a method for managingthe circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. Each gamingchip is of a specific gaming chip type selected from a plurality ofpredetermined gaming chip types, each predetermined gaming chip typehaving a respective predetermined monetary value. The gamblingestablishment includes a plurality of wagering stations eachimplementing at least one wagering game and a plurality of gaming chipdistributors. The method includes:

at one of the gaming chip distributors, receiving a payment from anintended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and

at the one of the gaming chip distributors, issuing to the intended usera plurality of gaming chips, the gaming chips being issued in numberssuch that the sum of the monetary values represented by the issuedgaming chips is equal to the monetary value of the received payment;

wherein the number of gaming chips of each predetermined gaming chiptype issued depends, at least in part, on an operational parameter ofeither

-   -   a set of wagering stations from the plurality of wagering        stations at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to be        used by the intended user;    -   the gaming chip distributor; or    -   a combination of the set of wagering stations and the gaming        chip distributor.

The operational parameter is indicative of the circulation of gamingchips within the gambling establishment. Therefore, the claimed methoddistributes gaming chips as a function of the environment of the gamingchip distributor, as a function of the status of the gaming chipdistributor, or both. This is to be contrasted to existing gaming chipsdistributor wherein the number of gaming chips of each type issued isfixed as a function of the total monetary value of the distributedgaming chips, or is controlled by the user requesting the gaming chips.In the claimed invention, the number of gaming chip of each typedistributed is selected so that the circulation of gaming chips in thegambling establishment is improved.

Advantageously, the system and method reduce the need to move gamingchips within the gambling establishment. In turn, this reduces a numberof employees required to operate the gambling establishment. Also, thenumber of interruptions of the wagering that occurs at wagering stationsto manage the gaming chips is reduced.

Also, the system and method are relatively inexpensive to implement andrelatively easy to use.

In some embodiments of the invention, the system and method reduce theneed to exchange gaming chips for gaming chips having different monetaryvalues at wagering stations. Therefore, there is less interruption inthe wagering that occurs at the wagering stations, which is moreenjoyable for the intended users of the system and more profitable forthe gambling establishment.

In another broad aspect, the invention provides a gaming chipdistributor.

In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a system formanaging the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictivedescription of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1, in a schematic view, illustrates a system for managing thecirculation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2, in a flowchart, illustrates a method for managing thecirculation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment implementablewith the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for managing the circulation of gamingchips in a gambling establishment. The system 10 includes a plurality ofwagering stations, designated generally herein by the reference numeral12. The system 10 further includes a plurality of gaming chipdistributors, designated generally herein by the reference numeral 14.In some embodiments of the invention, the system 10 includes a server16. The wagering stations 12 and the gaming chip distributors 14 arelinked to the server 16 to allow the exchange of information between theserver 16 and both the wagering station 12 and the gaming chipdistributors 14.

The reader skilled in the art will readily appreciate that in someembodiments of the invention, an alternative system does not include theserver 16. In these embodiments, the wagering stations 12 and the gamingchip distributors 14 are directly linked to each other, for example,through a network. Also, while the gaming chip distributors 14 and thewagering stations 12 have been shown as being physically linked to theserver 16, for example through optical fibers or metallic wires, it iswithin the scope of the invention to have servers 16 that are linked towagering stations 12 and gaming chip distributors 14 in any othersuitable manner, for example through infrared links, radio frequencylinks and any other suitable type of communication link.

The system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes 7 wagering stations 12 a,12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e and 12 f and 12 g. Also, the system 10illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two gaming chip distributors 14 a and 14b. However, the system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is only for illustrativepurposes and is within the scope of the invention to have systems havingany suitable number of wagering stations and gaming chip distributors.Also, it is within the scope of the invention to have systems 10 thatinclude more than one server.

The system 10 manages the circulation of gaming chips in a gamblingestablishment. Each gaming chip is of a respective gaming chip typeselected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types. Eachpredetermined gaming chip type is representative of a respectivepredetermined monetary value.

Gaming chips and their use in gambling establishments is well known. Forexample, gaming chips may be plastic, ceramic or metallic chips per se,but gaming chips may also be pieces of paper onto which inscriptions areprinted or chips storing information in an electrical circuit, in amagnetic circuit or in a computer chip, among other possibilities. Also,it is within the scope of the invention to use the system 10 in gamblingestablishments wherein the gaming chips are money coins or paper bills.

The wagering stations 12 each implement at least one wagering game. Forexample, the wagering game may be computerized game wherein a playerinteracts with an electronic machine to wager on the occurrence ofrandom or semi-random events. Also, the wagering stations 12 may bemanned wagering stations wherein, for example, a human manages a card ordice game. The exact type of wagering that occurs at each of thewagering stations 12 is typically not critical to the present invention.

The gaming chips distributors 14 a are devices that receive payment froman intended user and, in response to the received payment, distributegaming chips to the user. In opposition to many currently existinggaming chip distributors, the number and types of gaming chips issued bythe gaming chip distributors 14 depend, at least in part, on anoperational parameter of a set of wagering stations 12 from theplurality of the wagering stations 12 at which the distributed gamingchips are likely to be used by the intended user, an operationalparameter of the gaming chip distributor 14, or a combination of both.The gaming chip distributor 14 issues to the intended user a pluralityof gaming chips, the gaming chips being issued in a number such that thesum of the monetary values represented by the issued gaming chips isequal to the monetary value of the received payment.

The payment may be received at the gaming chip distributor 14 in anysuitable manner. For example, the payment may be received by the gamingchip distributor 14 by the insertion of paper money into the gaming chipdistributor 14. Alternatively, the gaming chip distributor 14 allows theintended user to provide payment through a debit card, a credit card,gaming chips of relatively large values or in any other suitable manner.In another embodiment of the invention, the payment is received bycrediting an in-house credit account. In other words, the gamblingestablishment may loan money, up to a predetermined amount, to anintended user. This money may be loaned automatically by issuing gamingchips a the gaming chip distributors 14.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 100 for managing the circulation of gamingchips in a gambling establishment. The method starts at step 105. Then,at step 110, one or more operational parameters of the wagering stations12 are transmitted to one or more of the gaming chip distributors 14. Atstep 115, payment is received from the intended user at one of thegaming chip distributors 14. Thereafter, at step 120, an operationalparameter of the gaming chip distributor 14 is determined. Finally, atstep 125, the gaming chips are issued by the gaming chip distributors 14and the method ends at step 130.

In some embodiments of the invention, at a step 112, there is a step ofmanaging the wagering stations 12 that occurs. For example, step 112occurs between steps 110 and 115, or at any other suitable moment in themethod 100.

In some embodiments of the invention, the wagering stations 12 arecapable of automatically measuring operational parameters of thewagering stations 12. Operational parameters are variables that describethe operation of the wagering stations 12. These operational parametersrelate to the movements and use of gaming chips in the gamblingestablishment in which the system 10 is located. Non-limiting examplesof such operational parameters are described hereinbelow.

In some embodiments of the invention, the historical data is collectedwhen gaming chips are delivered to the wagering stations. For example,the number of gaming chips of each type delivered to each wageringstations, as well as the date and time of delivery, are stored in adatabase, for example on the server 16, and used as a source todetermine operational parameters of the wagering station 12. Thishistorical data may be acquired for a predetermined period of time todetermine “preset” operational parameters. Alternatively, the historicaldata may be acquired continuously so that the operational parameters maybe updated at predetermined discrete time intervals.

In other embodiments of the invention, the wagering stations 12 include“intelligent” drawers that are capable of determining the number ofgaming chips of each type present at the wagering station 12. In theseembodiments, the wagering station 12 may then transmit to one or more ofthe gaming chip distributors 14, directly or through the server 16, thenumber of gaming chips of each type present at the wagering station 12.

In other embodiments of the invention, the wagering stations 12 arecapable of acquiring historical data regarding the time evolution of thenumber of gaming chips of each type present at the wagering station 12.In these embodiments, the historical data may be fitted to aprobabilistic model in order to estimate a gaming chip shortageprobability from the probabilistic model. This is done by computing theprobability that the number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chiptype falls below a predetermined number of gaming chips within apredetermined time interval. This type of probabilistic models is alsousable in embodiments of the information wherein the historical data hasbeen acquired and stored into a database in any other suitable manner.

For example, the wagering station 12 a may monitor the number of gamingchips of each type present at the station 12 a at 5 minutes intervals.Then, the derivative of the measured number of chips of each type may befitted to a gaussian probability model using data acquired during acertain acquisition time interval, for example during the precedinghour.

The gaussian probability model is used to model the rate at which thenumber of chips of each types increases or decreases at the wageringstation 12 a. Using standard statistical techniques, it is thereforepossible to determine the probability that the number of gaming chips ofa predetermined type will fall below a predetermined level at thewagering station 12 a within a predetermined time interval. Thisprobability is referred to herein as the gaming chip shortageprobability. For example, it may be determined that there is a 50%chance that gaming chips having a value of $5 would be present at thewagering station 12 a in a quantity of less than 100 gaming chips withinthe next 15 minutes.

In this case, the operational parameter that may be transmitted to thegaming chips distributors 14 is this probability of having the number ofchips of the predetermined type falling below the predetermined levelwithin the predetermined time interval.

The reader skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a gaussianprobabilistic model is only an example of a probability model that maybe used with the current invention. Also, it is within the scope of theinvention to acquire the historical data at the wagering station 12 andto perform the above-described calculations of probabilities either atthe server 16 or at the gaming chip distributors 14.

In other embodiments of the invention, the operational parameterincludes a removal ratio that is defined as a number of gaming chips ofone gaming chips type removed from the wagering station during apredetermined time interval divided by a number of another type ofgaming chips type removed from the wagering station during thepredetermined time interval. In these embodiments, a link is performedbetween the removal rates of chips having one value and the removal rateof chips having another value.

At step 115, payment is received at the gaming chip distributors.Methods and systems for receiving payments and distributing gaming chipsare well known in the art and will therefore not be described in furtherdetail. The only details that will be described hereinbelow are thedetails that are relevant to the distribution of gaming chips accordingto non-predetermined quantities.

In some embodiments of the invention, at step 120, an operationalparameter of the gaming chip distributors 14 is determined. For example,this operational parameter includes a number of gaming chips of eachgaming chips type remaining within the gaming chip distributor 14. Inanother example, the operational parameter includes a number of gamingchip distributed by the gaming chip distributors 14 that may berelatively easily carried in the hands of an intended user.

Subsequently, at step 125, gaming chips are issued by the gaming chipdistributor 14. The number of each type of issued gaming chips dependsat least in part on an operational parameter of the wagering stations12, on operational parameters of the gaming chip distributors 14 or onboth operational parameters of the wagering stations 12 and the gamingchips distributors 14.

In a first variant, the operational parameters are determined in “realtime”. In other words, the operational parameter that influences thenumber of gaming chips of each type that are issued depends on themeasured status of the wagering stations 12, the gaming chipsdistributors 14, or both. In a second variant, the operationalparameters are operational parameters that were determined in the pastand that influence the distribution of gaming chips at times that arenot simultaneous with the times at which the operational parameters weredetermined. In other words, the operational parameters allow to adjustparameters in an algorithm for distributing gaming chips such that thecirculation of gaming chips within the gambling establishment isimproved at times at which no measurement of the number of gaming chipsin the wagering stations 12, the gaming chips distributors 14 isperformed.

A set of wagering stations 12 that influence the operation of a givengaming chips distributor 14 may be selected according to many criteria.For example, these wagering stations 12 may be distant from the gamingchip distributor by a distance that is less than a predetermineddistance. In other embodiments of the invention, another parameter, suchas for example, the observed movement of intended users between gamingchip distributors 14 and wagering stations 12, determine which wageringstations 12 provide operational parameters to gaming chip distributors14. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to havewagering stations 12 that provide information regarding theiroperational parameters to more than one of the gaming chip distributors14.

In some embodiments of the invention, the number of gaming chips of atleast one type distributed by the gaming chip distributors 14 dependsupon the satisfaction of a predetermined gaming chip number conditionregarding the number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip typepresent in at least one of the wagering stations 12. This wageringstation may, for example, be a wagering station 12 that is closestphysically to the gaming chip distributors 14 in the gamblingestablishment.

In other embodiments of the invention, the predetermined gaming chipnumber condition depends upon the number of gaming chips of the at leastone type present at a set of wagering stations from the wageringstations 12. For example, the gaming chip distributor 14 a may receiveinformation regarding a predetermined gaming chip number conditionrelated to wagering stations 12 a, 12 c and 12 d, while the gaming chipdistributors 14 b may receive information regarding a predeterminedgaming chip number condition related the wagering stations 12 b, 12 f,12 g and 12 e.

In some embodiments of the invention, the predetermined gaming chipnumber condition includes having a number of gaming chips of the atleast one gaming chip type falling below a predetermined low levelgaming chip number. Then, the number of gaming chips of the at least onetype distributed by the gaming chip distributor may be adjusted so thatit is increased relatively to a standard number of chips distributed bydefault.

Also, in cases wherein the predetermined gaming chip number conditionincludes having a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chipstype increasing above a predetermined gaming chip number, the number ofgaming chips distributed by the gaming chips distributor 14 may beadjusted so that a number of gaming chips of the at least one typedistributed by the gaming chips distributor 14 is reduced relatively toa predetermined chip distributed by default.

In yet another example, the operational parameter includes a minimalwager accepted by at least one of the wagering stations 12, for exampleby the wagering stations 12 that are physically closest to the gamingchip distributor 14. The issuance of gaming chips is then influenced byissuing preferably gaming chips representative of this minimal wager. Insome embodiments of the invention, the number and type of the issuedgaming chips is such that the total number of issued gaming chips is atmost a predetermined maximal number of gaming chips for each gaming chiptype.

In other embodiments of the invention, a number of gaming chips of atleast one type issued by the gaming chips distributor 14 depends uponthe satisfaction of the predetermined gaming chips remaining conditionregarding the number of remaining gaming chips of at least one typeremaining within the gaming chip distributor. For example, if the gamingchips of the at least one type fall below a predetermined low level ofgaming chips remaining, a number of gaming chips of the at least onetype distributed by the gaming chips distributor 14 is reduced.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, if a gaming chip shortageprobability at one of the wagering stations 12 increases above apredetermined probability, a number of gaming chips issued by the gamingchips distributor 14 for a given type of gaming chip is increased.Accordingly, in these embodiments, a number of gaming chips that willarrive at the wagering stations 12 that face a shortage of gaming chipsof the at least one type increases for chips of this certain type.Consequently, this reduces a requirement that these wagering stations 12be provisioned by a human being in gaming chips of this type. In yetother embodiments, a number of gaming chips of the at least one typedistributed by the gaming chip distributor is such that game chips oftwo game chip types are issued in proportion substantially equal ameasured removal ratio.

The exact manner in which the number of gaming chips of each type isincreased as a function of the operational parameters of the gaming chipdistributors 14 and the wagering stations 12 may vary according topredetermined conditions. Typically, a gaming chips distributionalgorithm similar to currently existing chip distribution algorithms isused as a base line for the issuant of the chips. If the operationalparameters of the wagering stations 12 or the gaming chip distributors14 indicate that there is a need to modify the number of gaming chipsissued, for example because there is an incoming shortage of chips of afirst type at the wagering station 12 closest to the gaming chipdistributor 14, then this algorithm is modified so that the gaming chipsthat are in shortage are issued by the gaming chip distributor 14 in alarger number than would be issued otherwise.

The exact number of gaming chips issued as a function of the detectedshortage depends upon parameters that are site-dependant and that may bedetermined, for example, by operating the gambling establishment andadjusting these parameters as a function of observed gaming chipsmovements to ensure a substantially optimal distribution of the gamingchips within the gambling establishment. The optimal distribution occurswhen there is little or no need for human intervention in the managementof gaming chips between the wagering stations and the gaming chipdistributors.

In other embodiments of the invention, instead of transmittingperiodically or continuously the operational parameters between thewagering stations 12 and the gaming chips distributors 14, each of thewagering stations 12 issues an alarm upon a number of gaming chips of atleast one gaming chip type increasing above a predetermined overflowlevel. Then, the wagering stations 12 may probe at least two gaming chipdistributors 14 from the plurality of gaming chip distributors toreceive their respective numbers of gaming chips of this at least onetype remaining within each of the gaming chip distributors.

Thereafter, the number of chips of the at least one type remaining inthe gaming chips distributor from the at least two gaming chipdistributors is received. Afterward, a request to move a predeterminedquantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to thegaming chips distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributorsfor which a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip typeremains is lowest is issued to the casino personel.

In other words, in these embodiments, when a number of gaming chips of apredetermined gaming chips type increases beyond a predetermined number,a request is made so that the chips are removed from the wageringstations 12 and moved to one of the gaming chip distributors 14 thatshow a lack of gaming chips of this gaming chips type.

In other embodiments of the invention, the wagering station 12 at whichthe predetermined overflow number is reached issues requests to at leasttwo wagering stations from the plurality of wagering stations to receivetheir respective numbers of gaming chips of the at least one remainingtype within each gaming chip distributor. Then, a predetermined quantityof gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type is moved to agaming chip distributor 14 from the plurality of gaming chipdistributors 14 that is closest to the wagering station 12 from the atleast two wagering stations 12 or for which the number of gaming chipsof the at least one type remaining is smallest.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, instead of transmittingperiodically or continuously the operational parameters between thewagering stations 12 and the gaming chips distributors 14, each of thewagering stations 12 issues an alarm upon a number of gaming chips of atleast one gaming chip type decreasing below a predetermined underflowlevel. Then, the wagering stations 12 may probe at least two gaming chipdistributors 14 from the plurality of gaming chip distributors toreceive their respective numbers of gaming chips of this at least onetype remaining within each of the gaming chip distributors.

Thereafter, the number of chips of the at least one type remaining inthe gaming chips distributors from the at least two gaming chipdistributors is received. Afterward, a request to move a predeterminedquantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to thegaming chips distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributorsfor which a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip typeremains is highest is issued to the casino personnel.

In other words, in these embodiments, when a number of gaming chips of apredetermined gaming chips type decreases below a predetermined number,a request is made so that the chips are removed from the gaming chipdistributors 14 that show a surplus of gaming chips of this gaming chipstype to the wagering station 12.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofpreferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departingfrom the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. A method for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gamblingestablishment, each gaming chip being of a specific gaming chip typeselected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types, eachpredetermined gaming chip type having a respective predeterminedmonetary value, the gambling establishment including a plurality ofwagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game, thegambling establishment further including a plurality of gaming chipdistributors, said method comprising: at one of the gaming chipdistributors, receiving a payment from an intended user, the paymentdefining a payment monetary value; and at the one of the gaming chipdistributors, issuing to the intended user a plurality of gaming chips,the gaming chips being issued in numbers such that the sum of themonetary values represented by the issued gaming chips is equal to themonetary value of the received payment; wherein the number of each typeof issued gaming chips depends, at least in part, on an operationalparameter of either a set of wagering stations from the plurality ofwagering stations at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to beused by the intended user; the gaming chip distributor; or a combinationof said set of wagering stations and said gaming chip distributor.
 2. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the operational parameter includesa number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type present atleast one of the wagering stations from the set of wagering stations,said method further comprising: transmitting a number of gaming chips ofthe at least one gaming chip type present at the wagering stations tothe gaming chip distributor; and adjusting a number of gaming chips ofthe at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor uponthe satisfaction of a predetermined gaming chip number conditionregarding the number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chiptype present at the wagering stations.
 3. A method as defined in claim2, wherein: the predetermined gaming chip number condition includeshaving a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip typefalling below a predetermined low level gaming chip number; andadjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributedby the gaming chip distributor includes increasing a number of gamingchips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chipdistributor.
 4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein: thepredetermined gaming chip number condition includes having a number ofgaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type increasing above apredetermined high level gaming chip number; and adjusting a number ofgaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chipdistributor includes reducing a number of gaming chips of the at leastone type distributed by the gaming chip distributor.
 5. A method asdefined in claim 1, wherein the operational parameter includes a minimalwager accepted by at least one of the wagering stations from the set ofwagering stations, said method further comprising issuing preferablygaming chips representative of the minimal wager.
 6. A method as definedin claim 5, wherein the numbers and types of the issued gaming chips issuch that the total number of issued gaming chips is at most apredetermined maximal number of gaming chips.
 7. A method as defined inclaim 1, wherein: the operational parameter includes a number of gamingchips of at least one gaming chip type remaining within the gaming chipdistributor said method further comprising adjusting a number of gamingchips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chipdistributor upon the satisfaction of a predetermined gaming chipremaining condition regarding the number of gaming chips of the at leastone gaming chip type remaining within the gaming chip distributor.
 8. Amethod as defined in claim 7, wherein: the predetermined gaming chipremaining condition includes having a number of gaming chips of the atleast one gaming chip type falling below a predetermined low levelgaming chip remaining; and adjusting a number of gaming chips of the atleast one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor includesreducing a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributedby the gaming chip distributor.
 9. A method as defined in claim 1,wherein the operational parameter includes historical data on thetemporal evolution of the number of gaming chip of at least one gamingchip type at least one of the wagering stations from the set of wageringstations, said method further comprising adjusting a number of gamingchips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chipdistributor upon the satisfaction of a predetermined temporal evolutioncondition.
 10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein: thepredetermined temporal evolution condition includes having a gaming chipshortage probability increasing beyond a predetermined probability, thegaming chip shortage probability representing the probability of ashortage of the at least one gaming chip type at the at least onewagering station; and said adjusting of a number of gaming chips of theat least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor includesincreasing a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributedby the gaming chip distributor.
 11. A method as defined in claim 10,wherein the gaming chip shortage probability is determined by: acquiringhistorical data for the at least one gaming chip type at the at leastone wagering station; fitting the historical data to a probabilisticmodel; and estimating the gaming chip shortage probability from theprobabilistic model by computing the probability that the number ofgaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type at the at least onewagering station falls below a predetermined number of gaming chipswithin a predetermined time interval.
 12. A method as defined in claim10, wherein the operational parameter includes historical data on thetemporal evolution of the number of gaming chip of at least one othergaming chip type at the at least one of the wagering stations, saidmethod further comprising: computing a removal ratio equal to a numberof gaming chips of the at least one type of gaming chips removed fromthe wagering station during a predetermined past time interval dividedby a number of gaming chips of the at least one other type of gamingchips removed from the wagering station during the predetermined pasttime interval; adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least onetype distributed by the gaming chip distributor includes issuing gamingchips of the two gaming chip types in proportions substantially equal tothe removal ratio.
 13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the setof wagering stations includes wagering stations that are distanced fromthe gaming chip distributor by a distance less than a predetermineddistance.
 14. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: at awagering station from the plurality of wagering stations, issuing analarm upon a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip typeincreasing above a predetermined overflow level; probing at least twogaming chip distributors from the plurality of gaming chip distributorsto receive their respective numbers of gaming chips of the at least onetype remaining within each gaming chip distributor; receiving thenumbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining within eachgaming chip distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors;and moving a predetermined moved quantity of gaming chips of the atleast one gaming chip type to the gaming chip distributor from the atleast two gaming chip distributors for which the number of gaming chipsof the at least one gaming chip types remaining is lowest.
 15. A methodas defined in claim 1, further comprising: at a wagering station fromthe plurality of wagering stations, issuing an alarm upon a number ofgaming chips of at least one gaming chip type increasing above apredetermined overflow level; probing at least two wagering station fromthe plurality of wagering stations to receive their respective numbersof gaming chips of the at least one type remaining within each gamingchip distributor; receiving the numbers of gaming chips of the at leastone type remaining within each wagering station from the at least twowagering stations; and moving a predetermined moved quantity of gamingchips of the at least one gaming chip type to a gaming chip distributorfrom the plurality of gaming chip distributors that is closest to thewagering station from the at least two wagering stations for which thenumbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining is smallest.16. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: at a wageringstation from the plurality of wagering stations, issuing an alarm upon anumber of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type decreasing belowa predetermined underflow level; probing at least two gaming chipdistributors from the plurality of gaming chip distributors to receivetheir respective numbers of gaming chips of the at least one typeremaining within each gaming chip distributor; receiving the numbers ofgaming chips of the at least one type remaining within each gaming chipdistributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors; and moving apredetermined moved quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gamingchip type to the wagering station from the plurality of wageringstations from the gaming chip distributor from the at least two gamingchip distributors for which the number of gaming chips of the at leastone gaming chip types remaining is highest.
 17. A method as defined inclaim 1, wherein receiving a payment from the intended user includes atleast one of: receiving cash, crediting a credit card, debiting a debitcard, crediting an in-house credit account and receiving gaming chips.18. A system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gamblingestablishment, each gaming chip being of a respective gaming chip typeselected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types, eachpredetermined gaming chip type being representative of a respectivepredetermined monetary value, said system comprising: a plurality ofwagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game; aplurality of gaming chip distributors, said at least one gaming chipdistributor being operative for: receiving a payment from an intendeduser, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and issuing to theintended user a plurality of gaming chips, the gaming chips being issuedin numbers such that the sum of the monetary values represented by theissued gaming chips is equal to the monetary value of the receivedpayment; wherein the numbers and types of the issued gaming chipsdepends at least in part on an operational parameter of at least one of:a set of wagering stations from said plurality of wagering stations atwhich the distributed gaming chips are likely to be used by the intendeduser and said at least one gaming chip distributor.
 19. A gaming chipdistributor for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gamblingestablishment, each gaming chip being of a respective gaming chip typeselected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types, eachpredetermined gaming chip type being representative of a respectivepredetermined monetary value, the gambling establishment having aplurality of wagering stations each implementing at least one wageringgame, said gaming chip distributor being operative for: receiving apayment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetaryvalue; and issuing to the intended user a plurality of gaming chips, thegaming chips being issued in numbers such that the sum of the monetaryvalues represented by the issued gaming chips is equal to the monetaryvalue of the received payment; wherein the numbers and types of theissued gaming chips depends at least in part on an operational parameterof at least one of: a set of wagering stations from the plurality ofwagering stations at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to beused by the intended user and said gaming chip distributor.